Knoche, Defense Contain Huskies

The Harvard field hockey team and a persistent autumn wind sent chills down the spines of spectators last night as the Crimson was defeated by No. 10 Connecticut.

It may have been the site of play or the fact that those florescent stadium lights were illuminating Jordan Field for the first time this season, but something just seemed brighter about the Harvard team, now 0-6 on the season.

“Forget the record,” Crimson coach Sue Caples said. “This was good hockey. We battled Connecticut, and they’re very, very skilled. And that’s gonna now give us confidence. We took some chances—we went for it. I think the team is very proud of their efforts.”

With the blare of the first whistle, the Crimson was waiting. Harvard’s focused attack kept the play evenly distributed throughout the first half.

Nevertheless, despite its many offensive opportunities, the Crimson managed to get off only two shots in the first 35 minutes.

The Huskies (6-2), however, found their way to sophomore goaltender Kelly Knoche five times and were ultimately able to exploit their scoring chances.

Nearly halfway through the first period, UConn was awarded a penalty corner.

Moments later, a series of three flawless passes and a screaming shot across the circle converted into a Huskies goal. It would be the first and last time the ball would find its way beyond the goal line.

Trailing by one at the half, the Crimson players marched back onto the field with determination, ready for a fresh start.

While the Huskies did have control of the ball for the majority of the second period, their domination proved to be only in their time of possession.

The Harvard defense held UConn to the outermost part of the circle during all five of its corners, allowing only one of the Huskies’ five shots to reach the cage.

“[The defense] was awesome tonight,” Knoche said. “Everyone played so strongly today. You just have to focus, and we had a lot more focus on the field than we have in past games—and it showed. We went up against a formidable opponent, and we played our best game yet.”

Senior Aline Brown, still hungry from the taste of her first collegiate goal, had the best opportunity in the second half. After muscling her way through a blue wall of Connecticut defenders, sophomore Tami Jafar hooked a pass to Brown. With 3:30 left on the game clock, Brown rushed the net, nearly flattening the goalie who was barely able to disband the threat.

Although it was the Huskies who got the upper hand on the scoreboard, it was Harvard who had the most to celebrate. The Crimson not only exhibited a focus it has been chasing since the opening of its season but also held the nation’s 10th-best team—a team that had racked up 13 goals against its last two non-conference opponents—to a single goal.

Harvard looks to maintain its defensive prowess this Saturday when it travels to Providence, R.I., to face Ivy League opponent Brown.

—Staff writer Courtney M. Petrouski can be reached at petrousk@fas.harvard.edu.“Forget the record,” Crimson coach Sue Caples said. “This was good hockey. We battled Connecticut, and they’re very, very skilled. And that’s gonna now give us confidence. We took some chances—we went for it. I think the team is very proud of their efforts.”

With the blare of the first whistle, the Crimson was waiting. Harvard’s focused attack kept the play evenly distributed throughout the first half.

Nevertheless, despite its many offensive opportunities, the Crimson managed to get off only two shots in the first 35 minutes.

The Huskies (6-2), however, found their way to sophomore goaltender Kelly Knoche five times and were ultimately able to exploit their scoring chances.

Nearly halfway through the first period, UConn was awarded a penalty corner.

Moments later, a series of three flawless passes and a screaming shot across the circle converted into a Huskies goal. It would be the first and last time the ball would find its way beyond the goal line.

Trailing by one at the half, the Crimson players marched back onto the field with determination, ready for a fresh start.

While the Huskies did have control of the ball for the majority of the second period, their domination proved to be only in their time of possession.

The Harvard defense held UConn to the outermost part of the circle during all five of its corners, allowing only one of the Huskies’ five shots to reach the cage.

“[The defense] was awesome tonight,” Knoche said. “Everyone played so strongly today. You just have to focus, and we had a lot more focus on the field than we have in past games—and it showed. We went up against a formidable opponent, and we played our best game yet.”

Senior Aline Brown, still hungry from the taste of her first collegiate goal, had the best opportunity in the second half. After muscling her way through a blue wall of Connecticut defenders, sophomore Tami Jafar hooked a pass to Brown. With 3:30 left on the game clock, Brown rushed the net, nearly flattening the goalie who was barely able to disband the threat.

Although it was the Huskies who got the upper hand on the scoreboard, it was Harvard who had the most to celebrate. The Crimson not only exhibited a focus it has been chasing since the opening of its season but also held the nation’s 10th-best team—a team that had racked up 13 goals against its last two non-conference opponents—to a single goal.

Harvard looks to maintain its defensive prowess this Saturday when it travels to Providence, R.I., to face Ivy League opponent Brown.

—Staff writer Courtney M. Petrouski can be reached at petrousk@fas.harvard.edu.